OWINGS MILLS, Md.—Ravens kicker Justin Tucker did not watch last year’s AFC championship game. Could not even remember what he was doing.

Safe to say that Tucker will be a little more engaged this Sunday in the AFC title rematch between the Ravens and Patriots at Foxborough, Mass. The Ravens lost a heartbreaker in last year’s title game, when former kicker Billy Cundiff missed a 32-yarder in the waning seconds that could have sent the game into overtime.

Tucker has been a terrific addition for the Ravens as a free-agent rookie from the University of Texas. If Sunday’s game comes down to a Tucker kick, the Ravens are confident he will make it. He has already delivered in the clutch this postseason, making a 47-yarder in the second overtime to beat the Broncos in the divisional round. Special teams coach Jerry Rosburg loves the way Tucker reacts to pressure.

“He’s got a very confident persona,” Rosburg said. “He’s a confident young man in a lot of things that he does. He’s full of life and full of personality, and he enjoys those moments. You could tell when he bounced out there (in Denver) that it wasn’t intimidating to him. He was ready to go seize the opportunity. He made a great kick. It was fun to watch.”

Not that Tucker remembers everything about the sequence.

“Ed (Reed) came over and said a couple of words to me, but I honestly don’t remember what he said,” Tucker said. “I was locked in. You’re going to have butterflies when you get that opportunity. It’s not about suppressing them, but using those feelings in a positive way. You have to develop that. You have to work at it. I just remember walking away smiling, knowing I was going to make the kick.”

Tucker had already made a 38-yard game-winner for the Ravens against the Chargers in overtime during the regular season. Before that kick, Tucker heard the unmistakable voice of Ray Lewis.

“I’ve been watching Ray on TV since I was a kid,” Tucker said. “I’m still a little awestruck playing with him. Before the San Diego kick, he comes up to me and says, 'It’s your time, Tuck.’ Something like that is really cool.”

This will be Tucker’s first time kicking in Gillette Stadium, so he will try to get a feel for the conditions before the game. But if the outcome comes down to the Ravens’ kicker again, Tucker believes he is prepared.

“I feel like I’m hitting it as good a ball as I’ve ever hit it,” Tucker said. “That would be pretty cool.”